Fire scar analysis to identify fire events and stand age structure analysis to identify fire effects on survivorship of trees were used to reconstruct surface and crown fire regimes in upper elevation forests of the Gila Wilderness, NM. Fire regimes varied across forest type, but not necessarily across elevation. Prior to the twentieth century, (from 1706 to 1904), the mean return interval for large fires was 8 years. During the twentieth century, (from 1904 to 1995), the mean fire return interval for large fires was 46 years. The virtual end of historically frequent fire regimes due to livestock grazing and fire suppression since the turn of the century has affected successional pathways of forest types across elevations, favoring later successional forest species and structures.

Fire scar analysis to identify fire events and stand age structure analysis to identify fire effects on survivorship of trees were used to reconstruct surface and crown fire regimes in upper elevation forests of the Gila Wilderness, NM. Fire regimes varied across forest type, but not necessarily across elevation. Prior to the twentieth century, (from 1706 to 1904), the mean return interval for large fires was 8 years. During the twentieth century, (from 1904 to 1995), the mean fire return interval for large fires was 46 years. The virtual end of historically frequent fire regimes due to livestock grazing and fire suppression since the turn of the century has affected successional pathways of forest types across elevations, favoring later successional forest species and structures.

en_US

dc.type

text

en_US

dc.type

Thesis-Reproduction (electronic)

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dc.subject

Biology, Ecology.

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dc.subject

Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife.

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thesis.degree.name

M.S.

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thesis.degree.level

masters

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thesis.degree.discipline

Graduate College

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thesis.degree.discipline

Renewable natural resources

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thesis.degree.grantor

University of Arizona

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dc.contributor.advisor

Swetnam, Thomas W.

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dc.identifier.proquest

1385739

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dc.identifier.bibrecord

.b37459491

en_US

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